(Cover: Tammy Sneath Grimes, Crescent Communications)
ISBN: 0-9742652-1-7
Hardback with dust jacket
298 pages
IN STOCK
Price: 15.00
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THE YEAR IS 1955. Eisenhower is president, the McCarthy hearings are over, and Lolly Candolin has given her father an ultimatum: "Stop drinking or I'll cut my hair." Her father, refusing to have his life dictated by a ten-year-old child, retaliates by tossing Lolly's aged cat Bo, wrapped in a burlap sack, down into a gypsy camp from the high levee surrounding the town.
Going against everything she's been told, Lolly ventures into the gypsy camp on her own, where she befriends a cast of misfits, including: Tick, a tomboy her own age; Sophia, Tick's mother and gifted healer; and Sam, the unofficial leader of Cougarville, and the owner of a pet cougar.
It's not long before Lolly and her new friends are caught in a maelstrom of murder and intrigue as the county sheriff is shot and killed at a local saloon, with all evidence pointing to Sam. Lolly's father, the county prosecutor with everything to lose, goes after the case full bore, determined to see Sam convicted and executed.
Things become even more complicated for Lolly when, during a clandestine mission to warn the Cougarville residents of her father’s brutal intentions, she discovers the identity of the true killer, putting into motion a terrible dilemma that no young girl should ever have to face. Revealing her evidence will not only set an innocent man free, but destroy both her father’s career and any chance of winning what she yearns for most: her father’s approval.
Elizabeth Appell's debut novel, LESSONS FROM THE GYPSY CAMP explores the tension between individualism and family obligation, the complexity of
discerning right from wrong, and the overwhelming consequences of pursuing truth and justice.
Exquisite
"...Compelling to the adult and adolescent reader alike from its very first lines, "You can do this". Lolly Candolin, exudes optimism in the face of blatant physical, psychological, and emotional abuse on the part of her prominent attorney father. To qualify this piece of literature as a murder mystery is to only understand a small portion of the story itself – for it is much more."
--Victoria Douglas, The Compulsive Reader. Read the full review here.
"...Lolly Candolin is an irresistible young heroine in the mode of Scout (To Kill a Mockingbird). Lolly's
determination to speak the truth to a family and society where hypocrisy rules makes this richly plotted and
elegantly detailed novel a pleasure to read."
--Drusilla Campbell, author of Wildwood
...An excellent read. Lessons From The Gypsy Camp is multi-layered and conflict filled. Appell presents strong images and themes.
--Melissa Levine, In the Library Reviews Read the full review here
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More Reviews for Lessons From the Gypsy Camp
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Consequences
Young Lollie, the central character of the book, is faced with the dilemma of making choices in her search for justice and truth. Lollie is ten years old, charming, and precocious. After a traumatic incident with her father she becomes involved with a band of gypsies on the other side of the levee.
A series of playground scuffles and the resultant stern discipline by her teacher and her alcoholic father cause Lollie to become defiant. As the story develops she learns valuable life lessons from the gypsies. She learns to stand by her convictions.
Elizabeth Appell has used all the elements of storytelling in this her debut novel. As she describes the berm, the levee, the manicured lawns and other diverse settings from the Sacramento Valley in California the reader becomes a participant in the story. Her plot is carefully developed. Non stop conflict and resolution kept me engrossed right up to the final heart warming surprise ending.
The author has created colorful, believable characters. These complex relationships deal with personal issues of self acceptance, handling anger, and making good choices.
Although the book is targeted for the young adult reader, I highly recommend this book for any age.
Adults working through problems relating to alcoholism, parental relationships, addictive behavior, or abuse will gain new insights in their effort to rebuild these relationships.
--Richard R. Blake
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An engaging exploration of such issues as individualism and family obligation
"Ten-year-old Lolly Candolin finds herself having to deal with an alcoholic father and a mother who uses medication to avoid having to deal with family issues. There is a gypsy camp outside of Lolly's [town] where she is welcomed by friendly, colorful people whom [her] father, in his role as county prosecutor, has sworn to destroy. When the town sheriff is murdered and the evidence implicates the gypsy camp leader, Lolly discovers who the real killer is. Now she must decide whether to expose the murderer (which would destroy her father's professional reputation and end any chance at securing his approval) or say nothing and let an innocent man die. Deftly embedded in a riveting story for your readers ages 8 to 14, is an engaging exploration of such issues as individualism and family obligation, the complexities of discerning right from wrong, and the consequences of pursuing truth and justice. Elizabeth Appell's Lessons From The Gypsy Camp is an especially recommended addition to school and community library fiction shelves!"
--Midwest Book Review
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Listen to our youth
"The lessons within are many and humbling. Readers learn that children are often our best judges due to their innocence. They don't allow preconceived notions to get in the way of love. Journey with a young gal who shares the heart of a person has nothing to do with their social standing. A lovely book for all ages. A perfect read for middle and high school youth to learn that standing up for what you believe in has glorious rewards."
--Dotsie Bregel, boomerwomenspeak.com
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"At times disturbing, perhaps because of its realistic voyeurism into a home wrought with alcoholism and mean-spiritedness, Lessons from the Gypsy Camp is riveting."
--Dian Moore, Midwest Book Review
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"Lessons from the Gypsy Camp" is a very compelling read, a "page turner" as advertised. I found the characters engaging, the messages important and delivered smoothly and acceptably, the plot fast-moving, even exciting. The father's change at the end is believable even though I would have bet against it earlier in the book. The writing is very good, major characters are complex and well-defined. I do think it would find an audience with any age group from middle school up."
--Linda Bennett, Librarian, Kent Middle School, Kentfield, CA
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...The lessons from the gypsy camp are well worth learning, and are made all the more entertaining by the intensely vivid and endearing characters that teach them. From the bouncing and vivacious Tick and her adoring, unconventional mother, to the simple giant Bob Bob and his lion-taming mentor Sam, Elizabeth Appell has brought to life truly believable characters, a challenge made all the more so by their innate uniqueness.
--Nancy Morris, Allbook Reviews. See the full review on Blether.
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Exquisite
...Compelling to the adult and adolescent reader alike from its very first lines, "You can do this". Lolly Candolin, exudes optimism in the face of blatant physical, psychological, and emotional abuse on the part of her prominent attorney father. To qualify this piece of literature as a murder mystery is to only understand a small portion of the story itself – for it is much more.
--Victoria Douglas, The Compulsive Reader. Read the full review here.
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...A gripping tale of family trouble, community prejudice, personal responsibility & the consequences of choosing to do the wrong or right thing.
--RebeccasReads.com Read the full review here
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...A novel of fascinating characters, full of plots and sub-plots. A page-turner!
--Paul Perry, author of Lost People, A Room in Ueno, and Letter From
Chicago, 1932
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A heart-wrenching, well-written drama. The characters come to life under the pen of Elizabeth Appell. I felt as if I had known them many, many years.
--Gail Cauble Gurley, Author and Columnist
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This book reminds me of To Kill A Mockingbird and you can't do any better than that!
--Mary Lynn Roby, author of Marsh House
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...Lolly Candolin is an irresistible young heroine in the mode of Scout (To Kill a Mockingbird). Lolly's
determination to speak the truth to a family and society where hypocrisy rules makes this richly plotted and
elegantly detailed novel a pleasure to read.
--Drusilla Campbell, author of Wildwood
|
...An excellent read. Lessons From The Gypsy Camp is multi-layered and conflict filled. Appell presents strong images and themes.
--Melissa Levine, In the Library Reviews Read the full review here
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